Saqlain still cherishes his battles with Tendulkar

New Delhi, Dec 24 (IANS) Former Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq said it was an honour playing against India batting great Sachin Tendulkar and he enjoyed bowling to the master blaster.

Mushtaq, who played his last international match in 2004, said the cricket world has suffered a huge loss with the retirement of Tendulkar.

"The world of one day cricket has suffered a huge loss with Sachin Tendulkar's retirement from one day internationals. There will never be another cricketer like Tendulkar. He's been at the top of the game for twenty three years which is simply amazing and the way he has conducted himself throughout his career has been exemplary and a lesson to all young cricketers around the world," Mushtaq was quoted as saying by PakPassion.net MOnday.

On playing against Tendulkar, Mushtaq said: "I feel honoured to have played cricket in an era when Tendulkar played. It's been an honour to have bowled to Sachin. I've dismissed him, been hit for four, hit for six by Sachin, beaten him with deliveries. He's out thought me at the crease and sometimes I've got the better of him and it's always been an absolute pleasure."

Mushtaq recalled the time he spent with Tendulkar in England.

"I've always got on very well with Sachin and when I was playing for Sussex alongside Mushtaq Ahmed, the touring Indian team was playing a three day match against the County. Most of the Indian squad had dinner at Mushtaq's house every night during that match and I was present too. We had a few great evenings with the Indian squad in Sussex, all sat on the floor eating and talking about past matches that we had played in and it was an honour to be in the company of Sachin, memories that I still cherish," he said.

On resumption of cricket ties between India and Paksitan, Mushtaq added: "It's fantastic news that India and Pakistan are on the verge of a limited overs series and I sincerely hope that this is the start of regular cricket between the two teams. There's nothing quite like the Indo-Pak cricketing rivalry. The Ashes is also a huge rivalry but I think India versus Pakistan is a bigger cricketing rivalry."